A long-discussed step pay plan for Pope County employees is in place after an ordinance was approved by the Quorum Court on Thursday.

The ordinance was first considered at last month's Quorum Court meeting, but was ultimately tabled so justices could fine-tune the document.

A step pay plan will prevent new hires from being paid more than longtime employees. Under the new policy, all new county employees will start with an initial pay that is 85 percent of the full pay established for their position. After one year of employment, employees would receive a 5 percent pay raise, and another 5 percent after two years.

On the third anniversary of the employees' hire date, they would receive the full pay established for their position.

Certain employees, such as deputies and corrections officers within the Pope County's Sheriff's Office, department directors and others would be exempt from the ordinance. Also exempt are employees from Pope County 911, Pope County EMS and the Juvenile Probation Office, because those departments have existing step pay plans in place.

The ordinance was approved by a unanimous vote.

After the ordinance was adopted, 911 Director David Freeman commended the court for its work on the ordinance, and for finally writing and passing a policy that has been discussed for several years.

The court also established Thursday a committee to look into a potential cost-saving measure for inmate health care at the Pope County Detention Center. Initially, County Judge Jim Ed Gibson said he had concerns about whether the actions of such a committee would violate Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.

Justice Bill Sparks said the research "wouldn't require, in any form or fashion, any form of HIPAA violation." Sparks was appointed to lead the committee.

In other business Thursday, the court approved:

• An ordinance appropriated $21,922.89 from the General Fund. Those funds were a reimbursement of insurance proceeds for a Sheriff's Office vehicle that was recently wrecked.

• An ordinance appropriating $59,667 from the Drug Control Fund to be used toward the purchase of a new patrol vehicle and related equipment, a 2015 F-250 for use in the 309 program, five in-car cameras and a camera for the interview room for the Sheriff's Office.

• An ordinance appropriating $5,000 from the County Fire Equipment Act 833 Fund.

• An ordinance transferring $2,000 from the medicine and drugs line item to medical, dental and hospital within the Coroner's budget in the General Fund and transferring $131.89 from general supplies to transfers out within the Assessor's Amendment 79 Fund.

• An ordinance appropriated $13,701.25 from the Court Automation Fund to upgrade the County Clerk's computers to make them compatible with the Contexte electronic case management system.